Background: The present study was conceptualized as a pilot study to examine the effects of a 3-week program consisting of strain/counterstrain technique (SCST), phonophoresis, heat therapy, and stretching exercises on pain and functions in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Methods: Seven participants (mean age 25.85 years) diagnosed with TMD having pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area with decreased jaw opening were recruited for the study. Treatment interventions consisting of SCST, phonophoresis (ultrasound gel mixed with diclofenac gel), heat therapy, and stretching (mouth-opening) exercises were performed 3 days a week for 3 weeks. SCST was performed on the masseter, medial, and lateral pterygoid muscles. No control group was present in the study. Results: Paired samples t test revealed a significant difference in numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) (decreased by 50%, P < .001) and jaw functional limitation scale (JFLS) (reduced by 59.58%, P < .001) scores after 3 weeks of intervention. A large effect size (Cohen d = −3.00 for NPRS and −3.16 for JFLS) was observed for both variables. No correlation (R = 0) was found between the baseline values of NPRS and JFLS. Conclusion: A 3-week program consisting of SCST, phonophoresis, heat therapy, and stretching exercises was effective in reducing the pain and improving the functions related to TMJ in patients suffering from TMD. However, a randomized controlled trial is needed to reach a definite conclusion.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common disorder affecting women of reproductive age. PMS often begins 6 to 12 days before menstruation and ends two to four days after its onset. PMS has a negative impact on physical and mental health. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of various physiotherapeutic approaches in managing PMS-related discomfort, enhancing overall well-being, and improving quality of life. The Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline databases were searched for articles published in the period 2013–2023. This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted from February 2024 to April 2024. The study corpus comprised randomized controlled trials, randomized clinical trials, and pre-post experimental studies. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Premenstrual syndrome scale (PMSS), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and Beck Depression Inventory scale (BDI) were used as outcome measures. The 14 studies included in this review were screened independently by the three authors, who also extracted the data. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effect model. Physiotherapy interventions were found to significantly reduce depression compared to controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, physiotherapy was more effective in reducing pain compared to controls, with a mean difference in VAS score (95% CI) of 2.84 [−1.75, 7.43] between the two groups. The present results show that physiotherapy interventions can be promising and very effective in alleviating premenstrual symptoms and improving quality of life.

INTRODUCTION: Lumbar Canal Stenosis (LCS) is known as the well-established reason for pain and depleted walking capacity in patients with manifestations of paresthesia and pain in the lower back, gluteal region, posterior thigh, and legs which are termed as ‘Neurogenic Claudication’ (NC). Manual therapy combined with canal enlargement exercises and conventional physiotherapy may be considered in eradicating pain and NC symptoms, hence improving the quality of life. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with LCS with canal diameter 8-12 mm at the level of L4 and below will be recruited for this study. Through the Block randomization method, they will be randomized into two interventional groups: Manual Therapy & Canal Enlargement (MTCE) (n=16) and Conventional Physiotherapy (Cp) (n=16) groups. MTCE group will receive manual therapy and canal enlargement exercises, while the Cp group will receive only conventional physiotherapy. Both interventional groups will receive 3 days of treatment per week for 4 weeks. Modified Oswestry Disability questionnaire (MODI), Antero-Posterior (AP) canal diameter, Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and Claudication Distance (CD) will be used for the evaluation. In addition, modified Oswestry Disability Index, AP canal Diameter, NPRS, Claudication distance, an SLR will be measured at baseline and post-intervention. DISCUSSION: The results of this research will dictate the applicability of manual therapy with an exercise protocol of canal enlargement exercises on pain and functional disability in patients with LCS.